# Cover songs better than the original **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 4, 2009, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/495344 "2009-05-04T21:18:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/495344/1 "2009-05-04T21:18:01Z")
Of course this will just be a matter of opinion. But I wanted to express my admiration both for the original song composers and the artists who interpreted them even better. 🆒 These three really moved me. Please feel free to add yours. (P.S. This thread was inspired by watching a documentary on Johnny Cash on UK TV today.) ‘Hallelujah’ by Leonard Cohen, [covered by Jeff Buckley.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKnxmkOAj88&feature=related) ‘Mad World’ by Tears for Fears, [sung by Adam Lambert.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyyESHqT9a4) ‘Hurt’ by Nine Inch Nails, [covered by Johhny Cash.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO9dbmJ_2zU) ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/495344/2 "2009-05-04T21:27:27Z")
There are some I know of but almost none where I heard the original first: they tend to stick with you and the artist usually puts their own mark on the song and with the originally intended emotion that it’s hard to top. Sometimes the original is better though, even if I hear the cover first. The one exception I can think of is _Busy Bodies_ by Fastball, a cover of Elvis Costello. I just don’t think that most of the songs on _Armed Forces_ were arranged that well, a stab at poppy without being the full blown baroque of Imperial Bedroom. In fact, I prefer Costello’s own out-takes of many of the songs on that album (for instance Green Shirt and Big Boys,) so if there is a version of Costello covering his own Busy Bodies in the same slightly-more-harder-produced way tha Fastball does, I’d probably prefer it to the Fastball. ---
**Author:** ![maplekiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@maplekiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maplekiwi)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/495344/3 "2009-05-04T21:32:39Z")
I like Bryan Ferry’s cover of Jealous Guy better than John Lennon’s original. I like the Tremeloes cheery cover of Cat Steven’s Here Comes my baby. & Soft Cell’s Tainted Love rather than the original (I think its by Gloria Jones) & I like all the originals - just prefer the covers. ---
**Author:** ![blinkingblinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/495344/4 "2009-05-04T21:36:53Z")
I love Prince as an artist and a songwriter. Nothing compares to u [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kyANY6hER8&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kyANY6hER8&feature=related) I feel for you Kiss [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw3so6ClU9I](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw3so6ClU9I) ---
**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/495344/5 "2009-05-04T21:47:41Z")
I hope I won’t be murdered for this opinion, but … almost anything written by Bob Dylan and covered by anyone else. Man can write, but I’m not nuts about his voice. (Note the almost, too - there are exceptions.) ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/495344/6 "2009-05-04T21:48:32Z")
This topic has been covered extensively [twice](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=455919&highlight=cover+songs+original) [before](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=438187&highlight=cover+songs+original). The topic name is even identical. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Alan\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Bird)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/495344/7 "2009-05-04T21:48:48Z")
Joe Cocker “With a little help from my friends.” ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/495344/8 "2009-05-04T21:49:38Z")
> [@StuffLikeThatThere](#): > > I hope I won’t be murdered for this opinion, but … almost anything written by Bob Dylan and covered by anyone else. Man can write, but I’m not nuts about his voice. (Note the almost, too - there are exceptions.) I don’t think that’s disrespectful - Dylan is a genius at composing, but other (better) singers are inspired by his work. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/495344/9 "2009-05-04T21:49:57Z")
I prefer all Joe Cocker’s Beatles covers to the original, also his cover of Ray Charles’ “Unchain My Heart.” I’m not a huge Joe Cocker fan, but he really nails those particular songs. ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/495344/10 "2009-05-04T22:08:53Z")
I like the [Spock’s Beard](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KqVjKklyTY) cover of George Harrison’s [Beware Of Darkness](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh5QT7RHTr8). I like the [Leon Russell](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlB9AQGDMrs) version, too. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/495344/11 "2009-05-04T22:31:32Z")
While I like the original of _I Can See Clearly,_ I think Holly Cole’s version is better. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/495344/12 "2009-05-04T22:37:49Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > This topic has been covered extensively [twice](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=455919&highlight=cover+songs+original) [before](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=438187&highlight=cover+songs+original). The topic name is even identical. Much more than that. And it’s always Hurt and With a Little Help From My Friends. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/495344/13 "2009-05-04T22:38:09Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > This topic has been covered extensively [twice](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=455919&highlight=cover+songs+original) [before](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=438187&highlight=cover+songs+original). The topic name is even identical. Yawn ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/495344/14 "2009-05-04T22:41:40Z")
Am I the only one who prefers the Tears for Fears “Mad World” and the Leonard Cohen “Hallelujah”? I guess I find the other versions kind of schmaltzy. My nomination for this is always the Ike and Tina Turner version of “Proud Mary.” Just seems to have more life and excitement than the original which is an okay song but never felt like anything special to me. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/495344/15 "2009-05-04T22:49:28Z")
[Dread Zeppelin - Your Time is Gonna Come](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZlcnD__ekA) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/495344/16 "2009-05-04T22:56:24Z")
Fiona Apple’s cover of [“Across the Universe”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gLWTtlMwo4) - liquid lithium Taco’s["Putting on the Ritz"](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG3PnQ3tgzY) GG Allin’s cover of [“The Highest Power”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rseKO9pDO44&feature=PlayList&p=B5D7F7EAC2575764&index=0) and of course J.J. Milteau’s definitive version of [Shortnin’ Bread](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyOpJ9W78_0&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![blinkingblinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/495344/17 "2009-05-04T23:06:08Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Am I the only one who prefers the Tears for Fears “Mad World” and the Leonard Cohen “Hallelujah”? I guess I find the other versions kind of schmaltzy. > > My nomination for this is always the Ike and Tina Turner version of “Proud Mary.” Just seems to have more life and excitement than the original which is an okay song but never felt like anything special to me. I prefer TFF. I think their version is not well known. Curt Smith has a great voice. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/495344/18 "2009-05-04T23:12:48Z")
> [@blinkingblinking](#): > > I prefer TFF. I think their version is not well known. Curt Smith has a great voice. I remember really hating the cover when I saw Donnie Darko because it was so damned whiny but when I realized there was an original version, I preferred that. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/495344/19 "2009-05-05T00:25:37Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > This topic has been covered extensively [twice](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=455919&highlight=cover+songs+original) [before](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=438187&highlight=cover+songs+original). The topic name is even identical. I tried to do a search, but the Dope first reported an error message, then said I had to wait nearly 5 minutes to do another search. After waiting that time, it crashed again :smack: … so I just took a chance. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/495344/20 "2009-05-05T02:31:10Z")
I perfer Beth Orton’s version of \*\*Sisters of Mercy \*\*to Leonard Cohen’s original. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/zN2edpxeLpM/hqdefault.jpg "beth orton sisters of mercy") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN2edpxeLpM) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-better-than-the-original/495344.md?page=2)